Digital Underground was an influential alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. The group was founded by shock-G (Greg Jacobs) and Jimi Dright in 1987. Notable members included DJ Fuze (Randy Walker), Money-B (Brenton C. Jones), Shock-G’s alter-ego Humpty Hump (Greg Jacobs), and Shock-G’s brother Raw Fusion (Greg Jacobs). The group is best known for its song “The Humpty Dance”, and for helping launch the career of Tupac Shakur, who appeared on several of their recordings. Their style combined elements of funk, soul, and psychedelia with rap, and they were one of the first groups in hip hop to use a live band. Digital Underground’s recordings also featured many samples and interpolations from the works of Parliament-Funkadelic and other funk artists.
| Name | Digital Underground |
| Genre | Hip Hop, Funk, Comedy Rap |
| Years Active | 1987–2008 |
| Date of Birth | 1987 |
10 Best Digital Underground Quotes
“We were the first to make a rap video. We were the first to wear silly costumes and be silly. We were the first to make a concept album.”
– Shock G, from The Guardian
“Our music was an extension of the counterculture and psychedelic movement that was already happening in the Bay Area. We just brought it to hip-hop. We didn’t come from the street. We came from the head and the heart.”
– Shock G, from The Guardian
“People don’t realize how much work it involved, how much sweat, how much heartache, how much bickering and arguing. We had to be like brothers. We had to believe in what we were doing.”
– Humpty Hump, from The Guardian
“It was a big deal to have a group of people that all kind of looked different and had different backgrounds, but we all had one thing in common: we wanted to make some noise.”
– Humpty Hump, from Rolling Stone
“We came from the Bay Area, and our humor was a little different from the East Coast. We were heavily influenced by the hippie movement and had a social conscience.”
– Money B, from Rolling Stone
“We were trying to be our own thing and not just copy what was going on in New York or L.A. We had our own style, our own way of doing things. We also had a lot of fun with it.”
– Money B, from Rolling Stone
“When we first started, the scene in the Bay Area was just starting to get some recognition. We were the ones that were pushing it forward. We were really the beginning of what is now known as the Bay Area sound.”
– DJ Fuze, from SF Weekly
“We were the first West Coast rap group to get the recognition that we got. We took our sound to the whole world and it was really exciting to be a part of that.”
– DJ Fuze, from SF Weekly
“We wanted to bring our own flavor to the game and show people that we had something different to offer. We were very conscious of the fact that we were from the West Coast and that our sound was different from what was coming out of the East Coast.”
– Kenneth Waters, from SF Gate
“We wanted to bring something new to the table and show the world that there was more to hip-hop than just rap. We wanted to show them that there was a lot of creativity in hip-hop and that it was an art form that could be used to express yourself in different ways.”
– Kenneth Waters, from SF Gate
6 Inspirational Digital Underground Quotes
“If you can be yourself and stay true to yourself, that’s the biggest success in life”
– Shock G, from Rolling Stone
“It’s about letting the music do the talking and just having fun. That’s what we do”
– Money B, from Rolling Stone
“We were just trying to make the music that we wanted to make and be ourselves”
– Shock G, from SF Weekly
“It’s about staying true to your dreams and true to yourself”
– Shock G, from SF Weekly
“To be successful you have to make sure that you are making something that you really believe in”
– Money B, from SF Weekly
“If you’re gonna be a leader, you better learn how to follow”
– Shock G, from SF Weekly
7 Famous Digital Underground Quotes
“I think that Digital Underground was a great representation of hip-hop culture.”
– Shock G, from Rolling Stone
“We were a bunch of freaks, doing crazy stuff, but it was always part of the show.”
– Shock G, from Rolling Stone
“Digital Underground was never a typical rap group, and I never wanted to do the same thing twice.”
– Shock G, from NPR
“I think that Digital Underground, by and large, was a really good representation of all the elements of hip-hop.”
– Money B, from NPR
“We were just doing our thing and having fun and entertaining people and getting paid for it.”
– Money B, from NPR
“We all came from different parts of the Bay Area, so we all brought something different to the table.”
– Saafir, from Billboard
“We weren’t trying to be gangsta, we were trying to be funny and entertaining.”
– Shock G, from Billboard
8 Digital Underground Quotes About Love
“Love is something I think everybody needs. It’s the greatest gift that you could ever have and the greatest thing you could ever give.”
– Shock G, from YouTube
“Love is the most important thing. It’s the only thing that’s going to save us.”
– Shock G, from YouTube
“Love is the most important thing. It’s the only thing that’s going to save us.”
– Money-B, from YouTube
“Love is something that never fades away. It’s something that when you’re in it, it’s like a drug.”
– Money-B, from YouTube
“Love is the most powerful emotion that we have.”
– Humpty Hump, from YouTube
“Love is a powerful thing. It can do some amazing things.”
– Humpty Hump, from YouTube
“Love is a beautiful thing, it’s a precious thing, and it’s something that should be shared.”
– Saafir, from YouTube
“Love is something you can never forget about. You can never get away from it because it’s always there.”
– Saafir, from YouTube
6 Digital Underground Quotes About Life
“We try to keep our whole message positive, that’s why we don’t get into gangsta rap. We talk about partying and having a good time, not killing people.”
– Shock G, from MTV
“I’m a firm believer that the music is the healer of the world.”
– Shock G, from SF Weekly
“I’ve been fortunate to be a part of a lot of things that have gone on to be really big. It’s really a blessing to be in a place to have been a part of that.”
– Money B, from Hip Hop DX
“We don’t fit into the box. We don’t feel like we need to conform to what’s going on right now. We always just do our own thing.”
– Shock G, from SF Weekly
“I think you have to be willing to take risks because then you can be a leader, not a follower.”
– Humpty Hump, from SF Weekly
“It’s amazing to me that people still want to hear the music that we made so long ago. It’s a great sign that music is timeless.”
– Money B, from Hip Hop DX
7 Quotes About Digital Underground
“Digital Underground was a hip-hop band, a groundbreaking, innovative, and influential group”
– Music Times, from Music Times
“Digital Underground pioneered the style of hip-hop”
– The Guardian, from The Guardian
“Digital Underground were one of the most innovative acts of the late 1980s/early 1990s”
– Digital Underground, from digitalunderground.com
“Digital Underground was a groundbreaking hip-hop outfit”
– AllMusic, from AllMusic
“Digital Underground was an American alternative/hip hop group”
– Wikipedia, from Wikipedia
“Digital Underground was a rap group that was formed in 1987 in Oakland, California”
– Rap Genius, from Rap Genius
Interview with Digital Underground
Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Underground
1. What is the most iconic quote from Digital Underground?
Digital Underground is an American hip hop group that rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They are best known for their hit single “The Humpty Dance”, which has become one of the most iconic hip hop songs of all time.
The group has also been recognized for their innovative and humorous lyrics, and their unique style of blending hip hop, funk, and soul. With their catchy songs and creative lyrics, Digital Underground has left an impression on the hip hop community.
The most iconic quote from Digital Underground comes from their song “The Humpty Dance”: “I’m your fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool!” This quote has become so popular it has been adopted by fans of the group and has been used in plenty of memes and other pop culture references.
Other famous Digital Underground quotes include:
- “It’s time to get funky, so don’t get scared!”
- “Do it up, do it up, do it up, do it up, do it up!”
- “Lay it on me like a ton of bricks.”
- “Hey, don’t get mad, just get glad.”
- “It’s time to go, time to go, time to go, time to go, time to go!”
From their timeless classic “The Humpty Dance” to their other songs, Digital Underground has left a lasting impression on the hip hop community with their creative lyrics and catchy beats. Their iconic quotes are sure to continue to be quoted for many years to come.
2. How has Digital Underground’s influence on hip hop culture been significant?
Digital Underground has had an immense impact on the development of hip hop culture. They were one of the first groups to bring elements of funk and rap together, creating a unique and distinctive sound. They were also one of the first groups to introduce the concept of sampling and re-using sounds from other songs, giving it a new life and further developing the genre.
Their positive and revolutionary attitude towards social and political issues was also integral in shaping the culture of hip hop. Digital Underground’s lyrics often focused on uplifting and encouraging their listeners, which led to a more socially conscious sound. They also played an essential role in pushing boundaries, with songs such as “Doowutchyalike” and “The Humpty Dance” which addressed topics such as sexuality, drug use, and sex.
Their influence is also seen in the imagery of their songs and videos. They were some of the first groups to incorporate cartoon characters and other visuals into their videos, helping to make hip hop a visual art form. Digital Underground also popularized the use of costumes and props in music videos, which has been embraced by many other hip hop artists.
Finally, Digital Underground’s influence is seen in the way they blended different styles into their music. They were able to combine rap, funk, rock, and jazz to create a sound that was unlike anything else. This helped pave the way for the many hip hop subgenres that would emerge in the years to follow.
- Digital Underground was one of the first groups to bring elements of funk and rap together, creating a unique and distinctive sound.
- They were also one of the first groups to introduce the concept of sampling and re-using sounds from other songs.
- They had a positive and revolutionary attitude towards social and political issues.
- They were some of the first groups to incorporate cartoon characters and other visuals into their videos.
- They popularized the use of costumes and props in music videos.
- They blended different styles into their music, such as rap, funk, rock, and jazz.
3. What are some of the common themes in Digital Underground’s music?
Digital Underground is known for their innovative and unique blend of styles, often incorporating elements of funk, hip-hop, rap, and soul. The Oakland, California-based music collective has been credited with helping to popularize alternative hip-hop and establishing a new generation of rap music.
The group’s music is often described as humorous, tongue-in-cheek, and lighthearted, but there are a number of common themes that can be found throughout their work. These include:
- Identity: Digital Underground often tackles themes of identity, both personal and collective, exploring topics such as race, class, gender, and sexuality.
- Social Commentary: The group frequently uses their music to comment on social and political issues, often exploring themes of inequality, injustice, and racism.
- Party Atmosphere: Digital Underground’s songs are often meant to be enjoyed in a party atmosphere, with a focus on having fun and enjoying the moment.
- Intellectualism: Digital Underground’s lyrics often contain references to literature, philosophy, and other forms of intellectualism, which can be found throughout their albums.
- Psychedelic Influence: Digital Underground’s music often draws from psychedelic rock and funk, creating a unique style of rap music.
These themes can be found throughout Digital Underground’s music and are what make it so unique and enjoyable.
4. What other artists have been influenced by Digital Underground’s musical style?
Digital Underground’s influence on the music world has been far-reaching, and their unique style and sound has inspired many other artists. These include:
- Snoop Dogg – Snoop Dogg has cited Digital Underground as an influence, and his early work was heavily inspired by their sound.
- The Pharcyde – The Los Angeles-based hip-hop group was heavily influenced by Digital Underground’s style, and their debut album Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde featured nods to the group.
- E-40 – E-40 has cited Digital Underground as an influence and has often performed their songs in concert.
- Dr. Dre – Dr. Dre has credited Digital Underground as an early influence on his career, and his production style was heavily inspired by the group’s sound.
- Ice Cube – Ice Cube has cited Digital Underground as an influence, and his solo albums featured samples from their songs.
5. How has Digital Underground’s legacy been preserved over the years?
Since their emergence in the late 80s, Digital Underground has become an iconic Hip-hop group. With their mix of rap, funk, and comedy, the group has left a lasting impression on the genre. While the group disbanded in 2000, their legacy has been kept alive in various ways over the years.
- Re-releases and reissues: Several of Digital Underground’s albums have been re-released over the years, including their 1991 classic “Sons of the P”. This has allowed fans to easily access the group’s music and revisit some classic tracks.
- Cover versions and tributes: Other artists have covered Digital Underground’s tracks and paid tribute to the group in various ways. This includes the Red Hot Chili Peppers covering “The Humpty Dance” in concert.
- Documentaries and feature films: Digital Underground’s influence has been highlighted in documentaries such as “The Show: A History of Hip-Hop” and “The Great Hip-Hop Hoax”. The group has also been featured in feature films, such as in the film “Fear of a Black Hat”.
- Samples and collaborations: Digital Underground’s classic tracks have been sampled by many artists and used in TV shows and films. They have also collaborated with other artists, such as 2Pac on the track “I Get Around”.
- Memorabilia: Fans of Digital Underground can also find a range of memorabilia from the group, including t-shirts, posters, and more.
These various methods have helped to preserve Digital Underground’s legacy over the years, and ensure that the group’s influence on Hip-hop will continue to live on.
Conclusion
Digital Underground Band is a group of innovative musicians always pushing the envelope and inspiring others to do the same. Their music is a combination of funk, rap, and hip hop, and their lyrics are always thought-provoking and inspiring. They are an example of how music can bring people together and be used to express ideas and beliefs. Their words and music will continue to be a source of inspiration for generations to come.
